Fluid heater



y 1931a P. G. ALBERT 1,

FLUID HEATER Filgd June l6 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet, 1

29 24 INVENTOR %1-( +6.41 ATTORNEYS July '14, 1931. G ALBERT FLUID HEATER Filed June 16, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet, 3

- I INVENTOR Wu; A; M M;

Av ATTORNEYS P. a; ALBERT FLUID HEATER July 14, 1931.

Filed June 16, 1921 4 SheetsSheet, 4

l min l Ill 41 l I i-ll @ML D l NVEgTOR:

ATTORNEYS Patented July 14, 1931 PAUL LbUi 'fGAsTON ALYBERTfOF Au'LitAY sons-Boisirnnnonf AssIGN'oR mo THETBAJL cocxawnieor' COMPANY} oFBA'YoNN-E, NEW JERSEY; A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY OF FIGE.

FLUIF'HEATER My invention relates 'tO'vimpBOVIneHtS'" in fluid heaters in: which the fluid passes through tubes connected ito headers:

One of'the objectsof my invention-isto- FT provide-;1such a fiu-i d heater in 'Which'any onew a f='the"=tubes connectingtheheaders can be readily removed land replaced without dis 1 turbin-g the: other partsv 7 Another objeot of my invention is topro- -vide suoha heater so'that the fluidwillpass therethrough in sueh alnanner as to give" eificiency; in zoperati'onq and so that at the same time;-the headersrand-the tubes :ln'ay be readilyracoessiblea With these and other objects in--view-,-Iny invention-:consi'sts of the: constructions and arrangements hereinafterdescribed= and lnore specificallye pointed I out in theappended? claims 'In the 'drawin'gs: Fi'gu-re l 1 is an endelevation of one form rot fluid heater embody-5" ingrinyrinvention g :Fi 2 is assection' on the lines: -A 'B- G-D looking from s the right of'Figi 4; Figw3 is=a Vertioal seetion on' the lines*E'F'-G=I-I of 'Fig; 4, and Figs; d is a horizontalsection oni the-lines I J Like reference characters indicate like w 1' I parts in the severa-lviewsm e Forpurposes of'illustrationg'I have selected :a-Ir L economizer inn whichwa'ter' may be heated .bya:the waste flue 'gases of a: steam boiler; but it "'Will 'be understood that my inyentio'n'inayalso beappliedto oth'erforms ga -of fiu id heaters, such as' 'superheaters.

In thedllustrati eforrngl have-shownsuch a he'ater 'in'nnultipleg but-a description of a single heaterxwi'll'abe sufiici'ent for anmn-e derstanding f the-"invention; Imthe illus d-o trative "forim eaoh heater "has a pluralit y of vertial headers 10, 11;:12and 13, the lower" ends 0fwhich a-inay-t be COI1V6IlleIltly'S1ZlpE ported on bases 14. 3 These-headers are par allel and are divided into' pairs, ias' shown;

4;i'= best' iI1mFigL-J 4; While I have selected-i a header which is squarein; cross-"section as my preferred forms it: will beuunderstood that anyaother ssuitable rcr'oss sectionimay be used.-

Connecti-ng each rpai r'aof headers is a plu se' rality of bent tubes, each'rtubi lying in a ri plane' at right-angles to the axes of the head ers. In the illustrative form; the'tubes 15,- 16, i which are preferably unjointed as -iling in the same general direction that is,

towardthe left of Fig. 4.= Inthe preferred form, the two legs are substantially parallel and-arearranged 'to enter the same side "of the respectiveheaders in each pair and preferably are expanded in these-headers inthe' usual manner. Beneath the tubes 15, 16- (BX-7' tend bars 17 ;Wl1ich-," in turn, are supported by rods 18 attached "to beams 19, these bars beingharrangedso thatthe bends-of the tubes Will be supported thereon while a t-the same time each tube is free to 'move in'its ownlplane.

As shown best in Fig.2, the 'headersare provided with transverse partitions 20t0 24 ,inclusi-ve-,- arranged to divide each header into-aseries of compartments and the partitions-1n "one header being 111 staggered relationto the partitions in the other header,-so that the-compartmentsare also correspondingly staggered when the two headers are compared.

Opposite the ends of-eachcluster of tubes where they enter the-header is a handhole and cover 25 ofthe usual type; so that access may be had to the 'ends of any group of-tubes by; removingthese covers; The fluid which,-in' the form illustrated would be; the water to be heated enters the header 11 through the-pipe 26, being controlled by a Valve 27, and the headers 11 and 12are connected at their upper ends through the pipe 28-,"th'e heated water passing out of the systelnthrough the pipe 29.

As has been stated before the foregoing description applies'also to the otherportionsof the duplicate apparatus illustrated in'the drawings, the two portions on either side'ofth'e central line of Fig. 4 being the sarne'. A suitable casing, in theform illustrated; is placed around the heater to pro vide fiuesflfor the ases, this casing being provided with a -longitudina'lpartition between the' pairs of-theade'r's 10,11 and- 12,

13, each flue being open at the bottom and connected across the middle partition at the top. Gases may enter the flue at the left-hand side of Fig. 2 and, following the dotted line, will pass upward and then across the middle partition and then downward to the outlet at the right-hand side of Fig. 2. At the same time, the water by entering the lower part of the header 11 will flow generally upward through the flue at'the right of Fig. 2 and generally clownward through the flue at the left of Fig. 2, as shown by the full line arrows, passing from the header 11 at its upper end to the upper end of the header 12 through the pipe 28. In passing up and downthese fines, however, the fluid is compelled to circulate back and forth across the same by reason of the presence of the partitions in the headers, as will be readily understood by an inspection of the left-hand portion of Fig. 2.

In the form illustrated, the casing surrounding the heater is made up of plates provided with suitable insulation, and a series of doors 30 are provided opposite the handholes in the headers. In addition, removable portions 31 are provided in the casing.

In operation, it will be understood that the gases, by reason of their passage up and down the fines, directed also by baiiles 32 which may be provided, flow across the looped or bent tubes, the flow of the gases and the flow of the water through the tubes being in reverse directions, so that the counter-flow method of operation is obtained. If, for any reason, one of the tubes 15, 16 fails and is to be removed, the appropriate doors and the removable part of the easing 31 opposite the damaged tube will be opened or removed and the damaged tube will then be cut out. It can be removed from its position by collapsing the bent portion in the plane of the tube until the width of the area covered by the tube is less than the distance between the headers, the tubes having sufficient flexibility to be withdrawn without permanent deformation. The space between the headers and the length of the tubes and the manner of their bending are arranged so as to permit the legs of the tubes to be drawn in sutiiciently to enable the tube to be passed between the headers without permanent deformation of the bends of the tubes. Similarly, a new tube, bent to the form shown in Fig. 4, may be passed between the headers by collapsing. the bends to bring the legs of the tubes sulliciently close together. When thus collapsed, the tube can be passed into position between the next adjacent upper and lower tubes and without disturbing the latter and after the new tube has passed the headers, the legs will be permitted to spring into position to be entered into the proper faces of the headers.

By my construction the end portions of the legs of the tubes may be straight and not subjected to severe right-angle bends as would be necessary if these ends were inserted in the portions of each pair of headers which are adjacent; that is, in the faces 321 of the headers 10 and 11, as shown in Fig. 4. At the same time, the tubes are supported so that they may move in their own plane while the heater is in operation, and yet such supports will not interfere in any way with the removal or replacement of a tube.

While I have shown my tubes in their preferred form, having a plurality of bends, it will be understood that for some purposes only one bend may be desirable. It will alsov be understood that, if desired, the tubes may be arranged singly instead of in clusters as illustrated. Vhile, preferably, I arrange the bends so that the two legs of the tube are parallel, this is not necessary so long as the end portions of the legs extend generally in the same direction. While I have illustrated a heater in which the headersv are vertical, it will be understood that for many purposes the headers may be horizontal.

I claim -1. A fluid heater and its setting comprising a pair of parallel-headers spaced apart and bent tubes connecting the headers, each tube lying in a plane at right-angles to the aXes of the headers with the end portions of the legs of the tube extending in a substantially straight line from the bent portion thereof to the respective headers and connected to the headers, the space between the headers being sufficiently wide and the bent portion of each tube possessing sufiicient flexibility to be withdrawn in its own plane between the headers without permanent deformation of the bent portion of the tube, and the setting being arranged to permit such tube to be'so withdrawn, the tubes being located entirely within the setting.

2. A fluid heater and its setting comprising a pair of parallel headers spaced apart and bent tubes connecting the headers, each tube having a plurality of bends and lying in a plane at right-angles to the axes of the headers with the end portions of the legs of the tube extending in a. substantially straight line from the bent portion thereof to the respective headers and connected to the headers, the space between the headers being sufiiciently wide and the bent portion of each tube possessing sufiicient flexibility to be withdrawn in its own plane between the headers without permanent deformation of the bent portions of the tubes, the tubes being located entirely within the setting, and the setting being arranged to permit the tubes to be withdrawn.

3. A fluid heater comprising a pair of parallel headers spaced apart and bent tubes connectingthe headers, a setting for the heater, each tube having a plurality of bends and lying in a plane at right-angles to the axes of the headers with the end portions of the legs of the tube substantially parallel and extending generally in the same direotion from the bent portion of each tube, each tube possessing suflicient flexibility to be withdrawn in its own plane between the headers without permanent deformation of the bent portion of the tube, the tubes being located entirely within the setting, and the setting being provided with an opening adjacent to said headers through which the. bent tubes may be passed between said headers.

4. A fluid heater and its setting comprising a pair of parallel headers spaced apart and bent tubes connecting the headers, each tube lying in a plane at right angles to the axes of the headers with the end portions of the legs of the tube extending in a substantially straight line from the bent portion thereof to the respective headers and connected to the headers, the space between the headers being sufficiently wide and the bent portion of each tube possessing sufficient flexibility to be withdrawn in its own plane between the headers without permanent deformation of the bent portion of the tube, and the setting being arranged to permit such tube to be so withdrawn, and sup ports for the tubes arranged to permit free motion thereof in their respective planes and the withdrawal of the tubes in said planes, the tubes being located entirely within the setting.

5. A fluid heater and its setting comprising a pair of parallel vertical headers spaced apart and bent tubes connecting the headers, each tube having a plurality of bends and lying in a horizontal plane with the end portion of the legs of the tube extending in a substantially straight line from the bent portion thereof to the respective headers and connected to the headers, the space between the headers being sufiiciently wide and the bent portion of each tube possessing sutlicient flexibility to be withdrawn in its own plane between the headers witl out permanent deformation of the bent portion of the tu e, and supports for the tubes arranged to permit free motion thereof in their respective planes and the withdrawal of the tubes in said planes, the tubes being located entirely within the setting.

6. A fluid heater and its setting compris ing a pair of parallel headers located inside of and adjacent to said setting, unjoined.

bent tubes connecting said headers, the free ends of the tubes extending away from the wall of the setting adjacent to said headers, each tube lying in a plane at right-angles to the axes of the-headers with the end portions of the legs' of'the tube extending ma 7 substantiallystraight line from the bent portion thereof 'to the respectiveheaders and conneeted'to the headers, the space between the headers being sufficiently wide and the bent portion of'each tube possessing sulficientflez'ribilityto be withdrawn in its own plane -between the headerswithout permanent deformation of the bent portion of the tube, the setting between said headers being provided with an opening through which the tubes connected to said headers maybe inserted and removed and constituting the sole access-for tube, the tubes being located entirely within the setting.

7 'Afluid heaterand its setting compri's ing-pairs of headers located adjacent to the walls of the setting, bent tubes connecting each pair of headers and extending inward ly towards each other, each tube lyingin a planeat right-angles to the axes of 'th'e' headers with the end portions of the legs of the tube extending in::a substantially straight line from the bentportion thereof tothe respective headers and-connected to the headers, the space between the headers being sufiiciently wide and the bent portionof eaohtube' possessing sufficient flexibility to be withdrawn in its own plane'between the lieaders without permanent defo'rma-- tion of the bent portion of the tube, the setting being provided between each pair-of; headers with openings through "which the tubes'connected to the associated headers may be inserted and withdrawmand means for directing gases over the tub'es'conneeted to the pairs ofheaders. 1

85A fluid heater comprising a plurality of parallel headersdisposed in pairs'placed side by side, bent tubes connecting each pair of headers and i lying in planes at right angles to the axes thereof, the normal width: of the bent tubes being 'greater'than the dis-- tance between said headers, each headerbe-- provided with transverse partitions and the-partitions in each pair of headers being; staggered in relation to each oth'er,"a flue forea'ch pair of headers-and its tubes, the fines being connectedat their'ends 'and one of the headers of each pair being connected at one end-to a header of an adjacent'pair, wherebyiiuid enteringone of pair of headersis directed back and forth-between the pair of-headers successively while moving longitudinally of the flue.

9. A fluid heater comprisin a plurality of parallel headers disposed in pairs placed side by side, bent tubes connecting each pair of headers and lying in planes at rightangles to the axes thereof, each header being provided withtransverse partitions and the partitions in each pair of headers being staggered in relation to each other, a flue for each pair of headers and its tubes, the flues being connected at their ends and one of the headers of each pair being connected at one end to a header of an adjacent pair, whereby fluid entering one of a pair of headers is directed back and forth between a pair of headers successively while moving longitudinally of the flue, and the inlet and outlet gas connections to the flues and the inlet and outlet water connections to the headers being arranged so that the water fiows through the headers and the tubes in a generally reverse direction to the flow of the gases over the tubes.

10. A fluid heater comprising a plurality of parallel headers disposed in pairs placed side by side, bent tubes connecting each pair of headers and lying in planes at right-angles to the axes thereof, the normal width of the bent tubes being greater than the distance between said headers, each header being provided with transverse partitions and the partitions in each pair of headers being staggered in relation to each other, a flue for each pair of headers and its tubes, the fiues being connected at their ends and one of the headers of each pair being connected at one end to a header of an adjacent pair, whereby fluid entering one of a pair of headers is directed back and forth between the 39 pair of headers successively while moving longitudinally of the flue, and the inlet and outlet gas connections to the flues and the inlet and outlet water connections to the headers being arranged so that the water flows through the headers and the tubes in a generally reverse direction to the flow of the gases over the tubes.

11. In combination, a fluid heater, a setting surrounding said heater, vertical headers located adjacent to a wall of said setting,

bent tubes connecting said headers and extending away from said wall, each tube having a plurality of bends and lying in a horizontal plane with the end portions of the legs of a tube extending in a substantially straight line from the bent portions thereof to the respective headers and connected thereto, the space between the headers being sufliciently wide and the bent portion of each tube possessing sufiicient flexibility to be withdrawn in its own plane between the headers without permanent deformation of the tubes, said wall of the setting being provided with removable portions through 5 which the tubes may be withdrawn.

PAUL LOUIS GASTON ALBERT. 

